Knights ready for return joust with Broadbeach in final
GOLD Coast Knights soccer coach Alex Morrison says his side is bracing for another endurance-testing battle in this weekend’s premier league grand final with Broadbeach United.
The Knights will get the chance to do the premiershipgrand final double for the second straight season after beating Burleigh Heads 2-0 in the preliminary final on Friday night. It means Gold Coast will play Broadbeach in the grand final at 6.30pm.
Gold Coast lost a penalty shootout to Broadbeach 4-1 the previous weekend after the game finished at 3-3 and Morrison expected the grand final to be just as close.
“It will be a good game,” Morrison said.
“I’m pretty happy with the way we have played all year and I don’t think we will GRAND FINAL – SATURDAY, 6.30PM CROATIAN SPORTS CENTRE
change too much. They’re a good team and have been in this position many times so it will be a great game.”
The Knights took a 2-0 lead into halftime against Burleigh Heads after goals from Teddy Watson and Andrew Barisic.
“I thought we probably could have scored more goals in the second half,” Morrison said. “Burleigh just kept fighting. They did well, to be fair to them. They kept working hard and made it difficult for us.
“Teddy and Andrew were outstanding for us.”
Gold Coast got through the game unscathed and are hopeful midfielder Yuji Hirayama will recover from a rib injury in time to play this weekend after narrowly missing out on the preliminary final.
Morrison said his side’s experience in big games would count for little as they chase another title.
“Every grand final is different and everything is treated differently,” Morrison said.
“We will be ready but once the game starts I don’t know how much that has to play into account.”